‘Our president is trifling’: Stephen A. Smith blasts Trump for calling LeBron James ‘racist’

The ESPN commentator defended LeBron James despite their long-running feud, saying President Trump’s remarks were “beyond the pale” and “unpresidential.”

Stephen A. Smith called out Donald Trump on the latest episode of his podcast after the U.S. president personally attacked LeBron James, calling the NBA superstar a “racist.”

“Our president is trifling. We all knew that,” Smith said in the opening of “Straight Shooter.” The always-outspoken sportscaster and political commentator, who repeatedly called out Trump’s “unpresidential” behavior, said, “When you’re calling LeBron James a racist…it’s really getting ridiculous. The divisiveness, the way that this man acts, the things that he says, it’s really, really disgusting, and it needs to be said.”

As theGrio previously reported last week, Trump hurled the attack against James inside the Oval Office when asked by a reporter about LeBron’s recently announced move to the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I think LeBron is, maybe he’s a racist. But maybe he doesn’t like Trump, I don’t know,” said Trump. When asked whether LeBron James or Michael Jordan was the “GOAT” of the NBA, the president said of Jordan, a six-time NBA champion, “That’s a friend of mine. Play golf with him. He’s a really good guy…I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”

After seeing Trump’s remarks, Stephen A. said he couldn’t help but speak out against the president and defend James, despite Smith’s own personal issues with the four-time NBA champion.

“This kind of stuff is necessary to address, though, because at some point in time, we’ve got to call stuff out…We got to call it out for what it is. Because the only way that the world is going to become a better place is when we call out trifling tendencies, even if it’s from our president,” said Smith. “It’s embarrassing. You’re the commander-in-chief…and you’re going to come out and you’re going to call this Black man who’s universally recognized as one of the greatest athletes to have ever lived, who has been an upstanding citizen, somebody I don’t get along with. And I’m still willing to concede he’s great.”

Although he and LeBron “don’t get along,” Smith called James a “great athlete,” a “great person,” and a “great model.” By contrast, Smith said President Trump’s conduct is “unpresidential” and called him “unnecessary” and “polarizing” as a leader.

Smith acknowledged James’ public critiques of Trump, who also took issue with Trump’s conduct over the years. But the ESPN TV host said, “That doesn’t equate to calling him a racist.”

Pointing to Trump’s statements and policies that could be deemed racist, Smith said, “Is it LeBron James that implies that DEI is the reason that Black folks were thriving in America? Is it LeBron James that implied if it weren’t for affirmative action, what would Black folks have?”

“To call LeBron James a racist is beyond the pale and it crosses the line, is inexcusable, and the president should be ashamed of himself,” he said. “It’s important for all of us to say that. It’s important for all of us to acknowledge that.”